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(-No Model.) V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. W. JONES. PNEUMATIC TRANSFER TUBE SYSTEM.

No. 532,966. Patented Jan. 22, 1895.

ATTORNEY (N o Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. W. JONES. v PNEUMATIC TRANSFER TUBE SYSTEM. 7

No. 532,966. Patented Jan. 22, 1 95..

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PATENT FFICE.

FRANCIS W. JONES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PNEUMATIC TRANSFER-TUBE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,966, dated January 22, 1 895.

Application filed October 2, 1893. Serial No. 486,944. (No model To aZZ whom) it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. JONES, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Transfer-Tube Systems for the Automatic Transmission or Transfer of a Car or Carrier Through a Tube or Passage by Means of a Compressed Gas, of which the following is a specification.

I take the well known pneumatic tube having connection with a source of compressedair. The cars or carriers are preferably leather cylinders closely fitting the interior of the tube. There is a gate at the station for the introduction of the carrier, and there is a valve governing the admission of compressed air. I prefer to place the gate to the tube on the lever that works the air valve, so that when the gate is open the valve is shut and vice versa. At each station I place an electro-magnet and a bell or signal operated by the magnet armature. A projection on the armature is arranged to engage with the valve lever so that when the armature is in its normal position the lever is caught and held, from which position it is released by means of the operation of the magnet. At each station there is an electric signal transmitter or circuit closer operated by the movement of the carrier within the tube. There is a magnet at each station, and the magnet at one station is connected in circuit with an electric signal transmitter at another. There is a manually operated electric signaling device at each station, by means of which one station may signal another at any time, and when the tube is not otherwise employed it may be used as a speaking tube.

I have invented a novel form of electric signal transmitter or circuit closer specially adapted for use in connection with pneumatic tube transmission.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a view of the invention complete. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the apparatus at a station on an enlarged scale. 3 and 4 are details of the circuit closer.

The apparatus at one station is a substantial duplicate of that at another.

P is a Well known pneumatic tube, through Figs.

which moves the carrier 0, fashioned to closely fit the interior of the tube.

I R is a reservoir of any suitable compressed gas,preferably atmospheric air. It is supplied through means of an engine E, cylinder and pump 0, in a Well known manner.

S is a supply pipe connecting the' tube with the reservoir. There is a valve Vcontrolling access of compressed air; The valve is operated by a lever L which also carries the door g controlling the opening in tube P, through which the carrier is introduced. A weight w is placed upon this lever L, su'fficient in amount to operate the valve V by gravity. At each station there is an electro-magnet M having an armature a carrying a bell-hammer; and there is a bell or signaling device B. The armature lever is provided with a hook or catch n in position to engage with the leverL when the door g is closed and the valve V is open.

T is an automatic electric signal transmitter or circuit closer shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4E. The tube P has a rectangular slot 10. Fitting closely'over this is a cap or cover D, the junction being air-tight. Hinged to the cap D at h, and projecting through the slotp is a curved contact spring 5 electrically connected with the cap D through the flexible connection a. The free end of spring 8 has a slot 3' and through it projects an adjusting screw cl, having a shoulder,and a spring cushion upon which the free end of spring 8 rests.

t is a curved flat spring fixed to the cap D by means of an insulated connecting screw i. Its position is regulated by means of insulated screw 6. Spring 15 forms the complementary contact for the spring .9.

There is a magnet M at each station, and there are suitably located batteries M B. The magnet M at one station is connected in cir cuit with the automatic electric signal transmitter T at another station. I have shown two stations X and Y. At X there is an elec' tric signal transmitter T connected by wire 2 with battery M B and magnet M, at station Y; and the electric signal transmitter T at station Y is connected by wire 3 with the battery M B and magnet M at station X, the tube P being utilized as return circuit in both cases.

There are manually operated keys 7s at each station by means of which one station may signal to the other through the respective circuits.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Referring to station Y, the carrier has been introduced for transmission to station X, the door 9 has been lifted by hand and. closed, Where it is engaged and held in po- -sition by the catch a on the armature lever.

a, valve V being simultaneously opened. As carrier 0 passes the electric signal transmitter T, spring 8 is closed upon its complementary contact t, current passing via the conductor 3, battery M B, and magnet M, at station X, returning 'm'a the tube P. Said magnet being energized attracts its armature, releases the valve lever L, door g is opened and valveV is closed. This places station X in position to receive the approaching carrier. Upon the arrival of the carrier 0 at station X While it is passing transmitter T, the contact points 8 and t of electric signal transmitter T are brought together and the circuit of conductor 2 is closed m'ct conductor choking of the tube is prevented while the maximum safe speed of transmission may be practiced.

By the use of the manually operated keys through a slot in the wall of the tube into the I path of the car or carrier, a complementary contact point therefor and a cap surrounding the slot in the tube or'opening, arranged substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of the tube or passage, the car or carrier, the source or reservoir of compressed air,

an electric circuit uniting separated stations,

an electric signaling instrument in said circuit at one station, and an automatic electric signal transmitter in said circuit at the other station, consisting of a bent spring located without and projecting Within the tube, in the path of the car or carrier, said spring being hinged at one end and spring supported upon a regulating screw at the otherend, a complementary contact consisting of a fixed spring, a regulating screw therefor, and a cap or cover inclosing the slot in the tube and forming a mechanical support for the elemental parts of the transmitter, substantially as described. FRANCIS \V. JONES. Vitnesses:

J OHN F. SKIRROW', S. FRANCIS Jonas. 

